Planning for the Finish Line

Can you see it off in the distance?  It's right there!  Our blogs are almost finished...

At this point of the unit we would normally be planning the steps and actions we would take to build and create our product or solution.  We would start determining what resources, equipment and tools we would need, how much time each of the steps might take and what support or knowledge we would need to acquire or call upon.

In this unit, we've already begun the process of creating our blogs.  In fact, each of you already has a functional working blog that you've been posting to over the last few weeks.  So instead of planning to build a blog...  we're going to plan on how to finish our blog...

Some of the functional and aesthetic aspects of our blogs are in place.  There are a number of the elements that need to be added or tweaked before our blog is finally ready for prime time.  Which elements?  Well according to our functional sketches and blog template mock-ups...  we still need to ensure we have a...

• functional Menu,
• a complete Author Bio Page,
• an appropriate unique URL,
• a Background that matches our theme
• appropriate and functional Gadgets,
• a clean and organized Layout,
• and an optional Banner
• any of the Features mentioned in your Specification!

As we've talked about in class, we should plan on finishing these items are part of our create phase by following the guidance we've received by looking over our Design Criteria, the Functional Blog Sketches and our Template Mock-ups.

As our time grows shorter this semester, it will be up to you to determine when the best time for you to work on these items will be.  I have come up with an Action Plan Worksheet to help you plan and budget your time appropriately by coming up with some task action steps, complete with space for you to plan when you'll work on these items and to check off when you have completed them. It should already be in your folder! Be sure to work on this in and out of class!

Additionally I've put together a set of tutorial resources videos to better help you begin creating and fixing each of these items after using your Action Plan Worksheet to determine what your priorities are and when you'll get to them.  To access these resources, please view the linked videos below:

Creating a Menu and Author Bio Page in Blogger
Choosing a Unique URL for your Blog (The blogs web address) [Linked Articles: #1, #2, #3]
Adding Appropriate Gadgets (includes ClusterMap)
Adjusting your Blog Layout
Adding a Banner (Optional)

Due Dates:  

• All tasks in your action plan should be completed by Tuesday, December 9.

How to earn a 7 or 8: 

Finally, if you would like to earn a 7-8, please be sure to pay close attention to our task specific rubric including:

• All sections of your Action Plan Worksheet are complete and include extremely thorough, thoughtful and detailed actions steps for building your blog.
• The Action Plan Reflection is extremely thoughtful and detailed, identifying potential challenges and justifying any changes to the design.
• Student is consistently on-task making best use of their time. Student is constantly providing support to classmates in helping with blog creation.

Image Credits:
Runner's Den by Dru Bloomfield. Creative Commons Licensed on Flickr

Recipe for Success

I am amazed by all the innovative and interesting sketches i've been collecting from our 6th grade aerospace engineers.  Big wheels, small wheels, space ships, tacos and many more designs have come across my desk, labeled with features and measurements... ready to be built.

Let's take a moment and think about cake..  Imagine you were tasked with baking a cake for Mr. Connors birthday.  What ingredients would you need?... Flour, eggs, sugar?  What tools would you need?... a baking pan, spatula, mixing bowl?  But what about the things we sometimes forget... Wouldn't you also need an oven, a clean space to work, enough time to put it together and the skills and knowledge on how to actually bake?  And that doesn't even take into account having the right recipe!

The question is... Do you want Mr. Connors to have an EPIC Cake?... or an EPIC Cake FAIL?

Now let's transfer this scenario into your rover.  Before we can start to build, we need to construct our recipe... or our plan for how we will build the machine.  We also need to ensure we have the right materials and tools to build as well.

In this phase of the Design Cycle, we'll begin by constructing a logical plan which includes brainstorming all the materials, tools and resources we'll need.  We'll then plan out a task-list that includes step-by-step instructions for how we would build our rovers in the order that makes logical sense.  Just like someone could follow a recipe to make a cake, we should be able to follow your plan to produce your rover just as it is in your final design diagram.

Don't forget to follow your plan to bring your materials with you to our next class!  Can't wait to start building!

Resources:
Creating the Solution Task Specific Rubric
Creating the Solution Student Worksheet Template


Images:
Epic Cake Fail by Amy (mystoriesinrecipies)
Batman vs. Darth Vader by Liz Marek of Artisan Cake Company

The Cargo Arrived Safely!

This week our 6th graders have been busy learning about the atmospheric and topographical conditions on Mars as they take part in a Mars Rover Design Challenge in class.  They were asked to design and build a "self-propelled transport vehicle" prototype that would successfully transport 125g at least 1m safely and securely.  Their prototypes were to be designed and built using only recyclable or reusable every-day household items.  What they created was amazing!


Each student was responsible for coming up with their own design for the challenge.. and we had a great variety of designs be built and tested.  While not all the prototypes were successful in transporting the 125g weight the full distance, they were all very creative and thoughtful.

Next up, students will be completing the 6th and 7th boxes on their Design Challenge Packet that asks them to reflect on the success of their product and further challenges them to come up with some ideas on what they could have done or do to make it more successful.   Students have also been given the option to improve upon their design on their own time.  Those who successfully make their changes are welcome to bring in their prototypes for further testing next week.

 Please see the slideshow below or visit the gallery for some of the amazing images and action from this challenge.
 

Welcome to Design Technology

Aloha 6th Graders!

Welcome to Middle School, the MYP Program and 6th Grade Design Tech!  I can't wait to meet all of you as I've heard such wonderful things about you all!

This is our class blog for Design Tech.  It's the place you'll go to find out what's going on in class, where to go to get help and what's expected of you.  It will be my way of communicating to all of you and your parents about our units of work (assignments and deadlines), upcoming events (activities) and much more.

I know that were going to learn a lot this year - all while having a great time!  If you have any questions or comments, please let me know! See you all soon!